Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Dr. Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, B.Com., M.Sc., popularly known as Ibas, urged young generations to build “bridges” of friendship among nations through cultural diplomacy.
He delivered this message as the Keynote Speaker at INTRAFEST 2025, organized by the International Relations Program of the Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) to commemorate the program’s 25th anniversary.
Carrying the theme “Leveraging Cultural Values through Global Community Networks to Strengthen International Ties and Promote Positive Engagement among Nations,” the event served as a platform for UPNVJ’s academic community to reflect on the role of culture as a bridge for global diplomacy amid today’s international dynamics.
In his keynote address titled “From Culture to the World: Building Bridges of Friendship Among Nations,” Ibas highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy as an effective form of soft power in strengthening international relations.
“President SBY often said, a million friends and zero enemies. We want a million friends and not a single enemy. Our diplomacy must be a solution,” said Ibas before hundreds of students and lecturers at UPNVJ.
He also emphasized the transformation of diplomacy in the digital era, which demands adaptability and openness from young people to navigate global changes. According to him, modern diplomacy no longer happens only in meeting rooms and conferences but also in digital spaces that connect ideas, cultures, and collaborations across nations.
“Seminars, forums, and discussions like this are platforms to share ideas that can grow into real policies and programs. This is the modern era of diplomacy—open, collaborative, and forward-looking,” he remarked.
Ibas further commended UPNVJ as a “Campus of National Defense” for shaping students who are both patriotic and globally minded. He described education as Indonesia’s greatest soft power to reach the international stage.
“There is no greater strength than education and collaboration. From campuses like UPNVJ will emerge future diplomats who build intellectual bridges between Indonesia and the world,” he added.
Beyond diplomacy, Ibas also underscored the importance of preserving local culture as the nation’s identity in the eyes of the world. He cited Indonesia’s cultural heritage such as batik, angklung, wayang, and reog Ponorogo, all recognized by UNESCO as symbols of Indonesia’s rich and unique identity.
“Culture is Indonesia’s face to the world. From batik to reog, these are our universal languages of peace and unity,” he said.
Closing his speech, Ibas encouraged International Relations students to be cultural ambassadors who embody Indonesia’s noble values on the global stage.
“Great diplomacy is not about who speaks the loudest, but who listens the most sincerely. Let’s build bridges, not walls,” he concluded, receiving a round of applause.
The presence of Ibas Yudhoyono at INTRAFEST 2025 marked a significant moment for UPNVJ in strengthening its commitment to shaping globally competent youth. Beyond celebrating the 25th anniversary of its International Relations Program, the event reaffirmed UPNVJ’s mission to make culture the axis of diplomacy and global peace. (www.upnvj.ac.id)
